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Bows



Member Since: 07 May 2012
Location: Wales
Posts: 510
Wales 2006 Defender 110 Td5 SW Alpine White
I've done tho nordkapp trip. March 2012, took 2 weeks off work plus had the weekends either side, crossed from Dover to Dunkirk , then drove all the way up, it was awesome, gave the td5 a full service including fresh antifreeze and it didn't miss a beat. We travelled up on the E6 which is known locally as the arctic highway and the scenery was breathtaking mile after mile, day after day. We travelled back through Sweden stopping off for a night at the ice hotel. My td5 is a 110, the only mods are a raised air intake for clean air and a webasto cab heater, for me a 110 is the best bet for that particular trip. My reasons are that God forbid you have a problem and become stranded for hours, you can stretch out in the back and relax with the cab heater keeping the cab warm. As it happened, I didn't use the cab heater, but with temperatures dropping well past -20 c at night without taking into account wind chill , I saw it as a potential life saver.
Enjoy your trip. 2006 TD5110 station wagon
1995 300Tdi 90 truck cab
1989 90 hard top with 200 tdi
1983 110 hard top
1983 110 Hi cap
1954 107 pick up
Post #595545 23rd Jan 2017 11:47am
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Dan931



Member Since: 20 Aug 2016
Location: Wirral
Posts: 11
United Kingdom 2003 Defender 90 Td5 CSW Epsom Green
Are there any bizarre laws i should know about, ie France has full high vis jacket, warning triangle and no jerry cans. Are there routes to avoid toll road that anybody knows, i quite like the idea of taking the back roads if they exist or is it just main roads.
I have gone a bought a really low millage 90 in mint condition, i decided the 90 would best suit my need. I will be travelling on my own so i dont need much space plus the 90 will heat up quicker inside than a 110. I will be keeping the front seat empty incase i find myself a lusty swedish wench Razz

Has anybody experienced the channel tunnel recently with the migrants, is it as bad as the news makes out. If they jump in front of me i will treat them like pheasants, i dont fancy having my head kicked in. My understanding is that the scandinavian countries are peaceful low crime places, is this true? Will the defender be safe or do they have simillar thieving scum that we are blighted with.
Post #595695 23rd Jan 2017 8:49pm
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Farmerben



Member Since: 16 Jan 2017
Location: Herefordshire
Posts: 604
United Kingdom 2015 Defender 90 Puma 2.2 HT Keswick Green
In 2015 I got stranded in Calais as the French ferry workers burned tyres on the slip roads. Was like the apocalypse. Boxed in front, back and to the side by artics with migrants everywhere jumping on lorries trying to get in the back. Saw some jumping off bridges onto the trailer backs. Scary stuff.
Post #595770 23rd Jan 2017 11:27pm
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Farmerben



Member Since: 16 Jan 2017
Location: Herefordshire
Posts: 604
United Kingdom 2015 Defender 90 Puma 2.2 HT Keswick Green
kzycnn wrote:
I've done it in 2 weeks: Harwich to the Hook of Holland then through Germany to Puttgarden. Ferry from there through Denmark, Sweden and Norway. Summer trip mind.

Fantastic trip but exhausting - 4000 miles in 2 weeks Shocked

So, very doable but I had to take the Missus to Italy for a week in a hotel after we had got home so she felt she had had a restful holiday!!!

Tony


That sounds like a plan. We're off in June so should be warming up and plenty of daylight hours.
Post #595772 23rd Jan 2017 11:29pm
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kzycnn



Member Since: 24 Apr 2009
Location: Northumberland
Posts: 276
United Kingdom 2003 Defender 110 Td5 XS CSW Oslo Blue
Aye Smile

I used the overnight ferry to the Hook then an easy drive through to Puttgarden. Nice camp site there (Camping Klausdorfer Strand) - loads of room and a good café on site. Just a few minutes from the ferry port as well. Up to Copenhagen and then the Malmo bridge, because you have to, really.

Just remember to pack the smidge Very Happy I went in June and had my fair share of rain Sad

Tony
Post #595885 24th Jan 2017 2:34pm
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JOW240725



Member Since: 04 May 2015
Location: Suffolk
Posts: 7873
United Kingdom 2012 Defender 110 Puma 2.2 XS CSW Orkney Grey
You're all making me want to plan a trip!

For those that do make a trip this year, please do share your routes, schedules, recommendations and lots of photos after, as they will be very much welcomed Thumbs Up Thumbs Up Thumbs Up Bow down James
MY2012 110 2.2TDCi XS SW Orkney Grey - http://www.defender2.net/forum/topic43410.html
MY1990 110 200TDi SW beautifully faded Portofino Red - https://www.defender2.net/forum/post743641.html#743641
MY1984 90 V8 Slate Grey - https://www.defender2.net/forum/post744557.html#744557
Instagram @suffolk_rovers
Post #595898 24th Jan 2017 3:03pm
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CR



Member Since: 28 Jan 2010
Location: Ireland
Posts: 947
Ireland 2011 Defender 110 Puma 2.4 CSW Santorini Black
would be thinking that given what you said about picking up a passenger a 110 would defo be a better option Whistle
Post #595981 24th Jan 2017 7:46pm
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Dan931



Member Since: 20 Aug 2016
Location: Wirral
Posts: 11
United Kingdom 2003 Defender 90 Td5 CSW Epsom Green
Ive got a roof tent for that Rolling with laughter does anybody know the name of some good maps, somewhere between a road atlas and ordnance survey in terms of detail. Can i still get a webasto thermotop c block heater new or are they no longer made, there website was a bit confusing.
Post #596009 24th Jan 2017 8:50pm
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Dan931



Member Since: 20 Aug 2016
Location: Wirral
Posts: 11
United Kingdom 2003 Defender 90 Td5 CSW Epsom Green
Would anybody recommend running an optima dual battery?
Post #597408 29th Jan 2017 7:51pm
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sako243



Member Since: 08 Jul 2014
Location: Wales
Posts: 1186
Wales 1994 Defender 110 300 Tdi CSW Alpine White
Dan931 wrote:
Ive got a roof tent for that Rolling with laughter does anybody know the name of some good maps, somewhere between a road atlas and ordnance survey in terms of detail. Can i still get a webasto thermotop c block heater new or are they no longer made, there website was a bit confusing.

There's a free Android app called maps.me which can download OpenStreetMap data to the SD card for offline use. Ed
82 Hotspur Sandringham 6x6
95 Defender 110 300Tdi
Post #597451 29th Jan 2017 9:02pm
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Dan931



Member Since: 20 Aug 2016
Location: Wirral
Posts: 11
United Kingdom 2003 Defender 90 Td5 CSW Epsom Green
Thanks sako243 i will have a look into them tomorrow night. What is the mobile signal like over there, would i be best buying a satallite phone?
Post #597507 29th Jan 2017 10:55pm
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Darcy Fairfax



Member Since: 06 Oct 2014
Location: London
Posts: 721
England 2015 Defender 110 Puma 2.2 XS CSW Corris Grey
Would you consider getting a roll cage for this trip? Icey snowy roads and all that....
Post #597669 30th Jan 2017 5:58pm
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Vesku



Member Since: 12 Jul 2016
Location: Paimio
Posts: 44
Finland 2007 Defender 110 Puma 2.4 XS CSW Zermatt Silver
I think that more important than a roll cage is that you have good studs on tyres. If you come here on wintertime.
Webasto or Eberspächer is a big plus at least if you have an 300Tdi or Td5 but a Puma is warm enough (most of the time) without an extra heater. And don't forget That radiator muff..
Post #599525 6th Feb 2017 12:32pm
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76MV



Member Since: 01 Nov 2009
Location: Fife
Posts: 58
Hello Vesku
I will be driving to Nordkapp at the end of this month and would like to now if it is essential or a luxury to have either a Wabasto or similar? I will be driving a 2013 Defender.
Thank you for any help given, Marco
Post #668444 2nd Dec 2017 4:37pm
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shropshiredefender



Member Since: 05 Jun 2017
Location: Shropshire
Posts: 832
England 2011 Defender 110 Puma 2.4 USW Santorini Black
Hello Dan
I have some experience of Sweden both summer and winter and I use a 110 puma for long(ish) continental trips. It is big enough for SHMBO me and 2 dogs. No camping mind, comfort is required at all times!
Southern Sweden midsummer this year, great.
Northern Sweden a few years ago, midsummer inside the Arctic Circle, mosquito heaven, they even "starred" on postcards. Glad I smoked at the time! Whistle
Swedish friends usually have 2 sets of wheels and tyres this link https://www.transportstyrelsen.se/winter-tyres helps to explain legal requirements.
Great place to drive, relatively sparse population, good roads, much English spoken, and they know how to deal with winter conditions Cool
You will see a lot of lakes and forests.

Must have mods (IMHO) for long distance Defender driving -
BAS remap (remotely done so support world wide) great drivability and fantastic support from Pete.
Improve the turning circle, change the wheels to a different offset, +10 gives a much better turning circle than standard +30. So you can both park and take Alpine type hairpin bends without a 10 point turn Exclamation
It is worth crossing the Malmo Bridge and driving the Atlantic Road.
Buy your booze in Denmark, Sweden has an interesting attitude to alcohol Laughing
Have fun Thumbs Up Just because you're offended doesn't mean you're right.
Post #668481 2nd Dec 2017 7:26pm
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